Drink mixer



Aug. 21, 1923. 1,465,632

R. B. GILCHRIST DRINK MIXER Filed March 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 21, 1923. I

UNITED STATES PAT T orr es.

RAYMOND n. GILCHRIST, or NEWARK. NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoR To THE GILGHR IST I COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,IA- CORPORATION onnnw JERSE DRINK MIXER.

Application filed March 15, 1922. Serial No. 543,869.

T all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND B. GIL- cinusr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Drink Mixers, of which the following 'is a full,

clear, and-exact description.

The invention relates to drink mixers. I

In machines for this purpose, the liquid constituents of the drink to be mixed are usu-- ally poured into a receptacle which is generally designated a shaker, from many different containers disposed away from the mixer. The receptacle with these'constituents therein is brought to the mixer and placed in operative relation thereto and is removed from the machine after each mix-- ing operation, to discharge its contents. This is rendered necessary, because so many different ingredients and flavors are used in making drinks that they are, in nearly all cases, mixed individually. It is usually necessary to run the agitator for a considerable period to properly blend or mix the constituents and therefore it is desirable that provision be-made for retaining the'recep; tacle and agitator in operative relation to permit the dispenser to perform other duties during the mixing operation. In drink mixing, it thus becomes necessary to frequently place the receptacle containing the constituents int-o cooperative relation to the agitator and to withdraw it from the machine to dis charge its contents and cleanse the receptacle between mixing operations.

A desideratum in this art is to expedite and simplify the operations necessary to bring the receptacle and agitator into cooperative relation, to maintain them in such relation, in starting and stopping of the motor and the removal of the receptacle.

Heretofore, in machines whereof I am aware, excepting those exhibited in concur rently pending applications, it has been necessary in their use to manually manipulate the receptacle into operative position and withdraw-it therefrom and to additionally perform some separate step or operation, such as lowering the motor and agitator together, or shifting the agitator and its shaft into the receptacle and relatively to the motor or raising and looking a receptacle support to establish and maintain cooperative relation of the receptacle and agitator and to control the operationof the machine. Another desidera-tum in this art is to simplify the machine by dispensing with movable connections in and for the mechanism for'driving the agitator; 1

One'object of the present'invention is to provide an improved drink mixer in which these additional operations or steps are dispensedwith and -in which manual shift of the receptacle is utilized to "completely con-- trol the operation of the machine and to secure it and the agitator in cooperative relation.- 'By dispensing withthe necessity of these additional steps or'operations, the time of the dispenser in performing them is saved and the service is improved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle'controlled machine which is equipped so that the receptacle can be manipulated to control its looking into operative position around the'agitator, its release for withdrawal, and the starting-and stopping of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type in which movable connections in and for the driving mechanism for the agitator are dispensed with;

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple in construction. which maybe easily and readily operated and which is efiicient in operation.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description. I

The invention consists'in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more par- The invention is exemplified in a machine comprising an electric motor 8 which is supported at the upper end .of a standard 9. The latter serves as a stationary support for the motor and its lower end is rigidly secured to a base 10 which is adapted to v rest on a counter or table. A shaft 11 secured to the rotor of the motor projects downwardly from the motor case and is provided at its lower end with a suitable agi tator 12 for mixing the constituents of a drink, as well understood in the art. Shaft 11 is of sufiicient length so that the a itator may reach into the constituents o a drink to be mixed near the bottom of an open topped receptacle 19, which may be an ordinary tumbler, held below the motor and containing said constituents. There is suificient clearance below the agitator to permit the receptacle 19 to be placedbeneath the agitator without spilling its contents and without lowering the agitator into the receptacle. In the present invention, the relationship between the agitator and the motor or between the agitator and the base is not varied and thereceptacle and its contents only are manipulated in establishing cooperative relationship between the receptacle and the agitator so that movement of the agitator or the agitator and motor, are not utilized for this purpose. The case of the motor 8 is rigidly secured as by screws 13 to lugs 14 which are rigid with the upper end of the standard. A case 15, containing an electrical switch of usual construction and having its members connected to control the motor 8, is fixedly secured to the outside of the motor-casing of the motor. A spring-pressed button 16 operates the switch in the case 15 to close the circuit for causing the motor 8 to run when and while the button is pushed upwardly and to open said circuit to sto the motor when the button is released. he switchrmembers in the case 15 may be of standard construction, as well understood in the art, so that detailed illustration has not been deemed necessary. A pair of yielding contact-strips 16 adapted to enter a switch socket of usual construction project rearwardly from the case 15, so that the necessary electrical connec tions to supply current to the motor will be made by pushing an ordinary conductor-v socket, which is adapted to receive said contact-strips and is connected by a flexible cord to a suitable source of energy, into connected relation with said strips.

The mechanism for guiding the receptacle into and holding it in operative relation to the agitator and guiding it in' its withdrawal comprises a support '20 upon which the bottom of the receptacle 19 is adapted-..

to rest and which is provided with upstanding lugs 21 to prevent the receptacle 19 from slipping forwardly oflf said support.

Shelf 20 is secured to an arm 22 which extends rearwardly through a slot 23 in the standard 9 and is pivotally supported by a pin 24. The holding and guiding means for the receptacle also comprises an arcuate plate 25, the lower end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 26 to arm 22. This plate conforms substantially to the outer periphery of the receptacle 19, so that when the receptacle is being raised and pressed backwardly against it, it will be held against lateral movement which might cause the agitator to strike the receptacle. The upper end of guide-plate 25 is provided with a bracket 27rigid thereon which is slidab-ly'connected to the standard 9 by lugs 28 which project laterally from its sides and engage tracks 29 formed at the sides of a slot 30 in the standard and in which the bracket 27 is adapted to travel vertically. This forms a pivotal and sliding connection between the upper end of the guide-plate 25 and the standard. A stop or hook 31 is formed on bracket 27 to extend over the rim of the receptacle and into the upper portion thereof to engage its inner'periphery adjacent its rim and hold the upper.

portion of the receptacle in fixed relation to the guide-plate 25, so that the latter will move forwardly and backwardly with the receptacle 19. To automatically lock the receptacle in its raised or operative position and cause itto be held in cooperative relation to the agitator, a hook 33 is formed on bracket 27 and is adapted to interlock with a hook or lug 34 on the standard 9. The upper portion of the tracks 29 are narrowed,-as at 35, to permit sufficient fore and aft movement of the bracket 27 with the receptacle to effect engagement and disengagement of hook 33 and lugr34.

A lever 36, pivoted on pin 24, is provided with a suitable cam-surface 37 at its upper end to shift the bottom 16 into position to open and close the circuit. This lever is normally and yieldingly pressed forwardly by a spring 38 andis provided with a cam 39 which is adapted to be engaged by an abutment 40 on the lug 27 to shift the lever to cause button 16 to close the circuit for the motor 8 duringthe upward shift of the receptacle 19 and to permit the spring 38 to retract thelever to release button 16 and cause the motor to stop during the removal of the receptacle. The force of spring 38 is applied through switch lever 36 to press bracket 27 with its hook 33 forwardly to tend to hold the latter in engagement with lug 34 and to automatically lock the receptacle during its upward manual shift.

The operation of the machine will be as follows; Normally, the parts will be in position illustrated in Fig. 2. At such time, the receptacle guide 25 will be lowered and the lower support 20 will be inclined to provide clearance so the tumbler may be conveniently shifted into the space between the agitator 12 and guidei25. The operator, graspingthe receptacle, will place its upper margin againstthe guide 25 and will move the receptacle upwardly along the guide until therim of the receptacle strikes the book 81. Thereupon, the upper portion of the receptacle will be held against forward, as well a sidewise and backward, movement. Continuing the movement of the receptacle, it will cause, through its engagement with hook 31, the guide 25 and bracket 27 to move upwardly and simultaneously swing the bottom-support 20 into position to engage the bottom of the tumbler so that the latter will be supported and held thereby. As this occurs, the hook 33 will ride over lug 34 and pass into locked relation there with, being subjected to the influence of forward pressure of spring 38 through lever 36, toautomatically hold the tumbler holding mechanism in raised position. During the upward shift, abutment 40 will strike cam 39 on switch-operating lever 36 to shift its upper end 37 and operate button 16 into position to close the circuit for the motorB and cause the motor to start while the receptacle is in transit to its operative relation to the agitator. Preferably, this occurs be fore the agitator strikes the material in the receptacle. Lever 36 is notched, as at 42, so that it will not release the button 16 while the lug 27 is being shifted into locked relation with lug 34. When the hook 33 is locked, as shown in Fig. 1, receptacle 19 will be securely held in fixed relation relatively to the agitator and against displacement in any direction, being confined between guide 25, hook 31, bottom support 20 and lugs 21. After the receptacle has been left in position fora sufficient period to complete the mixing operation, the operator will graspthe receptacle and press it backwardly and upwardly against the force of spring 38 a suflicient distance to release hook 33 fromlug 34, and thereupon the receptacle will be free for manual withdrawal. The operator will then lower the receptacle 19, holding it against guide 25 and the holding devices will be lowered with the receptacle. When the lug 27. reaches the'lower end of slot 30, guide 25 and hook31 and support 20 will be arrested in position shown in Fig. 2 and then the receptacle may be readily lowered to clear the agitator 12. During the descent of guide 25, the upper margin of the tumbler will be held against forward movement by-hook 31. At this time, support 20 will be inclined to facilitate the forward withdrawal of the tumbler. Normally, the agitator 12 is disposed in eccentric relation in the receptacle Which is, in some instances, advantageous "in mixing. .During the with drawalof the receptacle, it is desirable to bring the agitator out of the'material in the.

receptacle as soon as possible, so that it will cleanse itself by centrifugal force before the upper portion of the receptacle has been rethe liquid column.

produces a vortex which causes the liquid column in the central portion of the recep---. tacle to be comparatively low. .The movement of the receptacle, resulting from the mechanism set forth, will cause the lower portion of the receptacle to be shifted rel.- atively to the agitator so as'to bring it into concentric relation during the withdrawal of the receptacle, so that the agitator will momentarily operate to produce a vortex :to accelerate its separation from the liquid column and cause it to be centrifugally cleansed before the upper portion of the receptacle is lowered below the agitator.

The invention exemplifies a machine which is controlled entirely by placement of the receptacle into operative relation to the agitator and its removal therefrom; in which the receptacle is held by coacting holding means at one side of the top and at the bottom thereof; in which provision is made for automatically locking the receptacle in operative position; in which the lower support is pivotally movableinto and out of operative position by shift of the receptacle and in which an upper holding device is similarly shifted; in which an upper holding device is released by shifting the receptacle; and in which the switch-operating device is controlled by the movement of the receptacle.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufiicient clearance topermit areceptacle with an open top to 'be placed into operative position around the agitator,

a movable bottom support for the recep tacle, and means operable positively -by the manual shift of the receptacle to shift said support.

above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator,

a bottom support for the receptacle movable laterally and vertically, and means operable positively by the manual shift of the receptacle to shift said support into and out its operative position.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a bottom support for the receptacle movable laterally and vertically into and out of operative position, and means operable positively by manual shift of the receptacle to shift said support.

4. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a motor. an a itator driven thereby and supported from a ove with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, means to automatically retain the receptacle in its cooperative relation with the agitator upon manual manipulation of the receptacle itself comprising a movable bottom support for the receptacle, and means also operable by the manual shift of the receptaclefor locking the support in its operative position.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an a itator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, means to automatically retain the receptacle in its cooperative relation with the agitator upon manual manipulation of the receptacle itself comprising a movable .bottom support for the receptacle, means for automatically controlling the operation of the motor by the manual shift of the receptacle, and means also operable by the manual shift of the receptacle for locking the support in its operative position.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor. an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable bottom support for the receptacle, a movable holder for the upper portion of the receptacle and an operative connection between said support and holder to cause them to be shifted together.

7. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable bottom support for the receptacle, a movable holder for the upper portion of and extending into the receptacle and an operative connection bctwccn said support and holder to cause them to be shifted.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable bottom support for the receptacle, and a movable hook for holding the upper portion of the receptacle.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of av motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable bottom support for the receptacle, a movable holder for the upper portion of the receptacle and an operative connection between said support and holder to cause them to be conjointly shifted, said holder being operable by the manual shift of the receptacle.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable bottom support for the receptacle, a movable, hook for the upper portion of the receptacle and an operative connection between said support and holder to cause them to be conjointly shifted, said hook being operable by the manual shift of the receptacle.

11. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a recptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a pivoted bottom support for the receptacle and a hook for holding the upper portion of the receptacle, said support being operable by manual shift of the receptacle.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle withv an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a holder for the upper portion of the receptacle extending into it and operable vertically thereby, and means to automatically lock the receptacle when it reaches its operative position.

13. In a machine of the character de scribed. the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a holder for the upper portion of the receptacle ertcnding into it and operable ver-. tically thereby, a movable bottom support 7 and means to automatically lock the receptacle in its operative position.

14..Ina machine of the character de-.

scribed, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with anopen top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a hook for holding the upper portion of the receptacle extending into it, and operable vertically thereby, and means to automatically lock the hook when the receptacle reaches its operative position.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufiicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable slideway for guiding the receptacle while it is being manually shifted into its operative position, means for locking the receptacle in its operative position.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, .an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable slideway for the receptacle while it is being manually shifted into its oper ative position, a hook for holding the upper portion of the receptacle, and means to automatically lock the receptacle in its operative position.

17. In a, machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a movable slideway for guiding the receptacle while it is being manually shifted into its operative position, a holder for the upper margin of the receptacleand extending into it and movable vertically with the guideway.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, means for guidin the receptacle while it is being manually shifted and securing it in operative position comprising a member for slidably guiding the receptacle, a vertically movable holder for the upper margin of the receptacle and extending into it, and a vertically movable bottom support.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agi tator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to: permit'a receptacle with an openltop to beplacedv into operative position aroundtheagitato-r, means 'for' guiding the receptacle while it is .being manuallyshifted and securing it" in operative position comprising a member for slidabl'y guiding the receptacle,-a'vertically movable holder for the upper margin of the receptacle, a pivotally supported bottom' support for the receptacle, and an operative connection between the holder and said support.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufficient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open topto be placed into operative position around the agitator, a vertically movable upper holder for the receptacle, a pivotally supported bottom support for the receptacle, and an operative connection between the holder and said support, said holder and support being operable by the receptacle.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with sufiicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, a vertically movable upper holder for the receptacle, a pivotally supported bottom support for the receptacle, and a receptacleguide connecting the holder and said support, and means to automatically lock the holder and support in raised posit-ion.

23. In av machine of the character described, the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and supported from above with suflicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator, laterally shittable means for guiding the reccptable to and from its operative position and to shift the receptacle laterally relatively to the agitatorand cause the latter to operate at different points in the receptacle, and means to secure the receptacle in operative position.

24:. In a machine of the character described. the combination of a motor, an agitator driven thereby and sup-ported from above with suilicient clearance to permit a receptacle with an open top to be placed into operative position around the agitator,

when the receptacle is in its operative position, and means to lock the receptacle in its operative position.

Signed at Newark, N. J., this 11th day of February, 1922.

RAYMOND B. GILCHRIST'. 

